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    Home » Recipes » Other

    Can You Put Aluminum Foil In An Air Fryer?

    Published: Jan 25, 2022 · Modified: Oct 12, 2023 by Krista Stechman · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    aluminum in air fryer

    Air Fryers are among the favorite new kitchen appliances right now but everyone is wondering, can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? Home cooks are always looking for new, fun, better and easier ways to cook in the kitchen. Easy clean up is also at the top of that list.

    They're also a healthier alternative to using a deep fryer. Try an Air Fryer Ribeye Steak, juicy chicken breast or even an Air Fryer S'mores recipe!

    Nobody wants a big mess to clean up after making dinner, am I right? Using aluminum foil in your air fryer basket seems like a great way to avoid a mess and allow for easy clean up.

    Is it going to spark up like it does in the microwave? There are lots of questions surrounding the question of, can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer. The short answer is yes, lets talk about the best way to do so.

    Try my Falafel Pita in the air fryer! Air frying directions in the Tips section and the Notes section of the recipe card.

    Air fryer with the front door opened.
    Jump to:
    • How does an air fryer work?
    • Do's and Don'ts of putting aluminum foil in an air fryer
    • Is it always safe to use aluminum foil in an air fryer?
    • Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?
    • Buying an air fryer
    • Air Fryer S'mores Recipe

    How does an air fryer work?

    An air fryer works much like a convection oven. It involves a heating element and air circulation. There is a fan inside of the air fryer that blows around the hot air and allows for better heat distribution and even cooking.

    This works great for giving foods that nice crispy outside, like French fries. Similar to a toaster oven but more high powered with a fan.

    During the cooking process heating coils help get the air fryer to high temperatures are reached then the air circulation is used for a quick cooking method. This is different than a microwave oven which involves "microwaves' being produced by a magnetron.

    These "microwaves" inside a microwave oven are what causes aluminum foil to spark up inside. Since the air fryer uses a different cooking process that will not happen.

    the inside basket

    Do's and Don'ts of putting aluminum foil in an air fryer

    Do's:

    • Put the aluminum foil in the bottom of the fryer basket. Lining the fryer basket with aluminum foil is a great way for home cooks to allow for an easy cleanup.
    • Put a small amount of foil in the air fryer basket. Only a small amount of aluminum foil is needed.
    • Check the manufacture's suggestions. Although using aluminum foil in most air fryers is safe, you always want to check the manufacture's suggestions because there is at least one air fryer that suggests not using foil in their product.

    Don'ts:

    • Do not put foil on the bottom of the air fryer. Putting aluminum foil on the bottom of the air fryer can result in blockage of the heating element and the air circulation. This will interrupt heat distribution and cause uneven cooking. Only put the aluminum foil in the fryer basket.
    • Do not use a large amount of foil. Only use a little foil, that way the food will still cook evenly.
    • Do not use parchment paper. UNLESS it is high quality, high heat parchment paper. Lower quality parchment paper can and will catch on fire. Aluminum foil in the basket is your best bet.
    aluminum foil inside the basket of an air fryer

    Is it always safe to use aluminum foil in an air fryer?

    No, depending on the kind of food you're cooking, you may not want to use aluminum foil in your air fryer. Tin foil causes a chemical reaction when it comes in contact with tomatoes and tomato products. Also any other highly acidic foods.

    For instance, if you cover your lasagna with aluminum foil then bake it you will end up with black spots on the lasagna, little pieces of foil in the lasagna and holes in your aluminum foil.

    That is because the foil starts to break down or "disintegrate" when it comes in contact with the tomato product. This process is sped up by the addition of heat.

    Does this chemical reaction pose any health risks? While this is generally considered "safe to consume", I for one do not want to be eating extra bits of foil. So it's up to you but I would recommend avoiding the use of foil in an air fryer when cooking things with tomato.

    Will this reaction leave a metallic taste on the food? It certainly can but it doesn't always. As a general rule I avoid the use of aluminum foil with acidic foods.

    Other foods to avoid putting in the air fryer

    • Anything with a wet batter. It will not fry up like it does in a deep fryer and you'll be left with a big mess
    • Dry Pasta, rice or grains. These all need liquid to cook. Once they've been cooked with liquid then you can add them to the air fryer to heat or crisp up

    If you're ever unsure if the type of food you're using is safe to use with foil, you can ere on the side of caution and just use the bare basket.

    inside basket

    Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?

    The simple answer is yes. There are just a few guidelines to follow for your own safety and well being. Generally speaking, using aluminum foil in an air fryer basket is a great way for home cooks to give themselves an easy cleanup!

    Air fryer liners are also an option. While these are really handy, it's just as easy to me to put a layer of foil in the bottom of the basket because I always have foil on hand. However if you prefer the liner then by all means, you can use that.

    Just to reiterate, you do not want to put aluminum foil in the bottom of your air fryer. This will block your air flow. Only in the bottom of the air fryer basket, not all the way up to the basket edge.

    aluminum foil inside the basket of an air fryer

    Buying an air fryer

    A lot of people aren't sure what type of air fryer oven to buy. There are a lot of air fryer models out there. A good idea is to think about a couple important things first. The amount you want to spend, the size you have on your counter and the size you need to fit enough food to feed your family.

    Here are a few different highly rated air fryers that would be a great buy depending what you're looking for:

    • Phillips Twin TurboStar Technology XXL
    • Dreo Air Fryer Pro Max
    • COSORI Air Fryer

    Air fryers are great for seafood too! Try this Asian Salmon recipe and Perfect Air Fryer Salmon.

    For other things to do and not to do in your air fryer, check out this article from Food Network!

    Try this fun recipe below using foil in your air fryer!

    Air Fryer S'mores topped with flaky sea salt.

    Air Fryer S'mores Recipe

    Krista Stechman
    The same s'mores recipe you've always loved without the hassle of making a campfire. Gooey marshmallow and warm chocolate sandwiched between two graham crackers
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 2 minutes mins
    Total Time 4 minutes mins
    Course dessert
    Cuisine american
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 137 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 air fryer
    • 1 tongs
    • 1 metal spatula

    Ingredients
      

    Air Fryer S'mores

    • 6 graham crackers broken in half
    • 6 jumbo marshmallows square or circular
    • 2 Hershey's bars full size, broken into smaller blocks

    Topping (optional)

    • ⅛ tsp flaky sea salt for sprinkling on top of chocolate

    Instructions
     

    Making the S'mores

    • Preheat the air fryer to 350°F for a couple minutes
    • Break the graham crackers in half and add chocolate on top of half, set the other half to the side
    • Place the graham crackers with chocolate into the air fryer for 10 seconds to slightly melt the chocolate. Remove them with a metal spatula and set on a plate or tray
    • Air fry the marshmallows for 1½ - 2 minutes, remove them with tongs and place 1 marshmallow on top of each chocolate
    • Place the remaining graham crackers on top of the marshmallows and push down lightly

    Notes

    • Don't crowd the air fryer. Only place marshmallows and graham crackers in a single layer in the bottom of the basket. Do not stack
    • Using tongs and/or a spatula will help prevent you burning yourself when removing items from the air fryer
    • Try out different chocolates! Reese's peanut butter cups and Ghirardelli squares are also really delicious on air fryer s'mores
    • Only leave the chocolate in the air fryer for 10 seconds. If you leave the Hershey's or Ghirardelli squares in longer then they can become very liquid-y. This makes burning yourself extremely easy. It also makes for a big mess
    • I only put the bottom graham cracker in the air fryer to hold the chocolate. The graham crackers can burn easily too so you don't want them in there much longer than the 10 seconds with the chocolate
    • If you like your marshmallow less toasted then don't leave it in as long. If you like a black marshmallow ( like I do) then leave it in slightly longer. The air fryer won't have the same effect that a campfire does though, so be cautious of how long your marshmallow is in the air fryer
    • Different brands and sizes of air fryers can have different cook times. My current air fryer cooks quickly. Make sure you pay attention the first time and adjust timing if needed

    Nutrition

    Calories: 137kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 148mgPotassium: 92mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 4IUCalcium: 18mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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